% 
178 ReEpoRT OF THE HORTICULTURIST OF THE e 
the centers of each two rows nearly or quite undisturbed by the 
cultivator teeth. 
The examination was made by carefully washing away, with a 
stream of water delivered through a hose, the soil loosened by 
the cultivator. On the whole, the injury dane to the roots was 
less than I had suspected. Still the number of roots broken was 
considerable. Opposite one hill containing 2 stalks of corn 22 
broken roots and fibers were counted. The largest of these, how- 
ever, scarcely exceeded a cambric needle in diameter. In another 
place 25 broken roots and fibres were counted opposite to a hill 
containing but a single plant. The bottom of the track of the 
cultivator, when washed clean of the loose soil, revealed in some 
places many broken roots and fibers; in others none. 
The cultivator teeth appeared to enter the soil about 3 inches. 
CONCLUSIONS. 
The first of these experiments confirms the results of last year 
and shows clearly that needless root cutting is injurious. 
The second experiment failed to clearly determine the method 
of cultivation that is most conducive to crop. | 
The examination with respect to the injury to the roots affected 
by cultivation shows that even a cultivator in poor condition run 
once in a place cuts quite a large number of roots. 
THE INFLUENCE OF THOROUGH AS CONTRASTED 
WITH SLACK PREPARATION OF SOIL. 
An experiment was planned, which it is proposed to continue 
through a term of years, intended to illustrate the influence on 
yield of, thorough, as contrasted with slack preparation of the 
soil, the differences in the treatment being reserved to the harrow- 
ing alone. The crop may be varied from year to year to suit 
circumstances. Fourteen one-twentieth acre plats, designated on 
the Station chart as main plats E 1-14 inclusive, have been set 
aside for this purpose. The treatment.of these plats has not been 
similar during past seasons; hence it is not expected that the first 
few trials will yield much valuable data. 
The plats were plowed as nearly uniformly as possible anon 
May 10. On May 17, plat No. 2 was harrowed once with the 
